Annapurna Das, the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

Dear students,
This blog is a bit different from my previous blogs because this does not talk about the syllabus or the projects or about how to score high in your exam but still I would call this a special one and I will request you all to not just read the blog till the end but also to watch the videos that I am attaching here with.

My blog today is about BURI MA,yes you heard it absolutely right and once you read this blog you will understand why did I choose BURI MA as the topic for my blog. You must be wondering how this is related to entrepreneurship !! So let's begin...

ANNAPURNA DAS.....the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

Annapurna Das ,a housewife ,a mother of two had to flee from Faridpur, Bangladesh,post partition  due to political unrest. Her husband by that time had already expired because of wrong treatment and she had no other option but to take refuge in Gangarampur refugee camp in West Bengal. Life was difficult and full of challenges but her courage ,determination , self respect and her urge to be financially independent helped her to rise every time life knocked her down.

CHECK OUT THE FIRST PART OF THE VIDEO
Part 1, Annapurna Das, the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

I don't have much information about her educational background but I am sure she never read management or entrepreneurship books nor did shestrain herself from any management schools but she was a far better entrepreneur than many others. ( We are talking about post independence period ie 1947-48 and so) .

CHECK OUT THE 2ND PART OF THE VIDEO
Part 2, Annapurna Das,the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

Annapurna Das possessed all the entrepreneurial qualities that you all have been reading about in your text books even since you took up entrepreneurship as one of your optional or additional subject. She was an OPPORTUNITY SPOTER and a PROBLEM SOLVER. She was then staying in Belur and she observed that there was a dearth of Idols among the local people as it was not made anywhere near and had to be brought from quite a distance. The moment she realised this  THROUGH ENVIRONMENT SCANNING, THROUGH OBSERVING AND BY TALKING TO THE LOCAL PEOPLE, she instantly came up with A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM. She herself  bought idols from potua para in bulk, brought it to Belur and started selling it to the local people. People bought idols from her like crazy and were happy being served.

CHECK OUT THE 3RD PART OF THE VIDEO
Part 3, Annapurna Das,the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

Annapurna Das continued doing several other seasonal business for a while like selling gulal or aabir during Holi or Dol as it is called in West Bengal, selling kites or ghuri during Vishwakarma puja and so on. Since she could UNDERSTAND THE PULSE OF THE CUSTOMERS and SHE PROVIDED THE CUSTOMERS WITH WHAT THEY NEEDED her business never failed.

CHECK OUT THE 4TH PART OF THE VIDEO
Part 4, Annapurna Das, the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

Later on she bought a shop with ₹1000/- in Belur in 1952 for  starting a fireworks shop during Kali Puja and what is quite interesting is this fund of ₹1000/- was not her own source rather  borrowed fund . So you can understand that ONE CANNOT START ONES BUSINESS WITH BORROWED FUND IS ONLY A MYTH.

CHECK OUT THE 5TH PART OF THE VIDEO
Part 5, Annapurna Das, the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

This fireworks business of her was an instant success but  OBSTACLES ,HINDRANCES,AND UNFORSEEN EVENTS are also a part of business that entrepreneurs have to deal with. Since Annapurna Das did not have the license to sell the fireworks she was forced to shut down both her shop and her business and this is the reason why we say that BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT PLAYS A CRUCIAL ROLE IN THE LIFE OF A BUSINESS, in this particular case it was the LEGAL ENVIRONMENT that AFFECTED HER BUSINESS ADVERSELY.

.....But Annapurna Das DID NOT GIVE UP, she was determined  to BOUNCE BACK FROM THE OBSTACLES. She did not only arrange for the licence to sell the fireworks she even worked towards getting the licence to make fireworks and once she had it she never looked back.

With the help of Akbar Ali ,Annapurna learnt the art of making firecrackers and eventually came up with an INNOVATIVE PRODUCT, the chocolate bomb which sold in the market like hot cakes. Annapurna's business flourished and she soon bought three plots of lands in different places to set up her fireworks factory. HER VISION,HARDWORK AND DEDICATION HELPED HER BUSINESS TO GROW AND EXPAND.

Out of the plots that Annapurna had acquired ,she distributed one to the poor families and built houses for 50 such poor family. And I think IT WOULDN'T BE WRONG TO CALL ANNAPURNA DAS A SOCIAL ENTREPRENEUR AS WELL.

Their business suffered a major set back once the chocolate bomb were banned which was their most popular product plus there was huge competition from Sivakasi and Chinese fireworks. IN ORDER TO SURVIVE AND TO OUTWIT COMPETITION NEW INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS WERE ADDED TO THE RANGE OF FIREWORKS AND PRICES WERE ALSO KEPT REASONABLE AND LOWER THAN THAT OF SIVAKASI's PRODUCTS.

CHECK OUT THE 6TH PART OF THE VIDEO
Part 6, Annapurna Das, the lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB

This is the story of BURI MA, Annapurna Das and her patent Burima CHOCOLATE BOMB.

Annapurna Das, a woman, an entrepreneur, a fighter, a winner...probably an inspiration

If you have liked my blog, share it and let others know about this strong lady. Do watch out the videos on BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB and ANNAPURNA DAS.

With love,
PDG MA'AM.








https://youtu.be/zcdG7M8DVisPart 2 Annapurna Das The lady behind BURIMA CHOCOLATE BOMB